Trainer time again

It's that time of the year again to break out the trainer, dust it off and start sweatin' to the oldies. Oh what fun it is to ride......

2006 Cannondale Scalpel 1000 brand new and beautiful 

Cannondale Rush 2000 @ Indiana Cycling and Fittness 

Here I am finishing The Iron Cross III, America's longest cyclocross race
I can't say I did all that well but I finished and had a good time

Nick charging hard at the New Bethlehem Peanut Butter Festival. Nick ended up finishing second in his age group despite the wasp nest

Mike at the New Bethlehem Peanut Butter Festival. Mike also finsihed third in his age group, too bad about the wasps.

New Bethlehem Peanut Butter Festival

Here's Alex racing toward the finish at the race earlier today. His fourth place finish overall was the best on our team with Mike finishing seventh and Nick finishing twelfth. Both Mike and Nick had an unfortunate incounter with a nest of wasps. I tried another MTB race today but after only about a mile my chain and derailure hanger cracked putting an early end to my second try at xc racing. Alex also finished first in his age group

First MTB race

I did my first MT bike race today. The plan was for me to lead out Nick to the trail and get him a big enough lead to be first on the trail and then he could destroy the field. It worked and he had a good lead and then his chain broke, twice! Nick ended up finishing 12th. As for me, I'm a terrible Mt biker but I finished and hope to improve, I know I can't get any worse.

Training blues

I don't know why but I'm at a real low right now with my training, both mentally and physically. I'm riding slower and it is really noticeable on climbs, which really worries me since I used to excel in this area. School is starting next week and I'll probably end up doing a lot more riding on the trainer since it will be too late to ride outside. Trainer riding may be just the thing I need to get back on schedule and on the right path back to form for the upcoming races in September.

2006 Cannondale Scalpel 1000- Hopefully this will be my new bike in a few weeks. I've decided to mix up my road riding with some off road stuff and I will also be trying 2 off road races in the next 3 weeks. I probably won't have my new bike by then but who knows. Also the Iron cross is coming up in a few months. It's a 60 mile long cyclocross race, the longest in the world.

 

Here I am on my cervelo dual time trail bike. I didn't realize until this picture that this bike is probably too big for me but my back is pretty flat so my postition is good, I guess. 

This is a stop we made at a gas station for water along the road during the smicksburg century.

Here I am riding over the peak of Mt. Mitchel, a sissy mountian compaired to Brasstown Bald, GA.

Finally, I made it to the top of Brasstown Bald. It is the only hill I've had to stop before remounting my bike and finishing. This hill is turely a wall.

My new Giro Pneumo 

40 mile TT

My time trial bike after I did my 40 mile time trial the day before the start of the Tour de France. I rode a hard 64 miles yesterday. Summer is really great!

Me in th Brookville time trial on June 18, 2005
I ended up winning by 31 seconds. It was a great time and the day was a beautiful day to ride. My Dad drove with me and Rich, Gale, and Gabriel went in another car. I had an asthma attack and a cramp in my right calf but I still won so I guess it is alright.

Indiana Cycling Team photo
Here is our new team photo after the 5-points crit. I was hanging in until a lapped rider cut me off in the second corner with 4 laps left.

5-points road race
Here I am finishing 10th in Indiana's 5-points classic road race. I attacked on the last climb and had an asthma attack. It was all I could do to hold on on the down hill and finish with the pack.

Race day

I completely screwed up on Sunday. My legs felt like lead and I fell out of the pack at the beginning of the second lap. I started too far back in the back and by the time I caught up I was cooked and I fell off the back soon after. I guess I'll try to do better also. Oh yeah, and I ate a scrambled egg and ham sandwich on a beagle from Kings, I'll never do that again.

My new bike and skinsuit
I've been doing alot of riding this week since we had a shortened week at school. I did my first week this year over 200 miles. I still love the new bike and will be making my first real attempt at a race tomorrow morning on it. Unlike last week when the race was canceled by our one day snow storm tomorrow is supossed to be 70 degrees and sunny. It should be a good time. I hope I can do well and not finish too far back. It will be a blast.

Cannondale R5000
Here it is, my cannondale R5000. The only thing I've changed from stock are the crankset and tires. I changed the crankset to Dura-ace and the tires to Vredestein. I changed the crankset only because I like the way the Dura-ace looks. On the other hand, I changed the tires because I love the road feel of the Vredsteins. This bike is really nice. I had a Specialized Allez Pro with full ultegra and it was nice but didn't fit me well so I had to use a really short stem and that threw some things off. This bike fits me well and I love it. The Dura-ace crankset along with the aluminum Caad8 frame and Ksyrium Elite wheels make this bike surge forward with every pedal stroke. I think the biggest difference I can tell from other bikes I've ridden is how stiff the crankset is. I guess that's it because it feels nothing like any of the other bikes I've ridden, even with the same frame. Don't get me wrong the frame is wonderful also. It is super light and the blue color changes depending on the light. It looks great. The Fizik seat is also really nice. Compared to the Selle San Marco saddles I had been ridind this thing is like a pillow. I have no numbness and no saddle sores so far. I went to race it today but the race was canceled because of snow so I'll have to report more on how it is to race on later, but I can't imagine it won't be exquisite. I still have to get the fit exactly right, seat and handlebar postition, and then I'll be able to do a much better review. So for now that's it, keep riding!

Race prep

We're supposed to get a few inches of snow tonight but that won't stop Rich and I from going to the race tomorrow in Mingo creek. I am almost finished prepping my bike and all of my stuff I'm taking tomorrow. I just have to load up in the morning and meet Rich at his house @ 6:15a.m., that's pretty early especially considering the time change.

lots more riding

I've been doing alot of riding and haven't taken time to write. I'm feeling good with race day only one week away. My new bike came in and is waiting at the shop in the box, ready to be built. I can't wait! I'm considering some upgrades and I'll comment more on them if I go ahead and get them. Happy Easter

days getting longer = longer rides

I've been getting to do quite a bit of riding over the last week. It has started to get slightly tollerable out and going outside isn't so terrible any more. Race season is less than 2 weeks away with a road race in Washington, PA on April 3. I went to the bike shop over the weekend and decided to test ride some bikes now that it is a bit nicer just to ensure I was getting the right size bike. It turns out I needed a 56cm instead of the 58cm we had ordered. Rich said he would change the order first thing Monday and when he called to change it the 58cm had already been sent. Now it has to be sent back and the other one ordered and it won't be here until the end of April. That is sooooo far away. I guess it won't hurt me to wait. Also, I won't be tempted to ride it and get it all dirty and grimy on these roads that still haven't recovered from a long winter.

Spring break was great! I actually even wrote a paper for micro lab and then found out it wasn't due for 2 more weeks. Then my father and I went for a bike ride. We went 20 miles and it was pretty cold. It was a slow ride but still nice.

It snowed last night. So after a weekend with temperatures in the 50's I was stuck inside on the trainer again today for 20miles. Oh well, I guess spring will be here soon or I'll go crazy, either way it won't be long.

It's a nice day to ride!
I just got back from Indiana and a 40 mile ride this morning. It was really nice outside, 55 degrees. It was very windy, with a tail wind the whole way to Indiana and then riding into the wind the whole way home. The good news is on the way there I felt like I was flying. I stopped at the bike shop and bike is not in yet but I'm more excited everyday. Get out and ride and stop reading this, it's too nice to be indoors today.

More base miles

Today was beautiful. Well, not really but for PA in March it wasn't half bad. Rich keeps telling me about these base miles I need to get in. I rode 45 more base miles today, actually 44.94 if you want to get technical. It was a really nice ride. I tried my new camelbak and hated it. It felt like it was cutting off your breathing the whole time you were wearing it and drinking was also difficult. It is impossible to breathe while sucking water out of this thing and breathing is sort of important when riding a bike. It's probably going back. The only reason I might keep it is to use as a backpack when on the bike. It was nice and aero and once loosened up didn't affect breathing other than when drinking.

Speedplay Zero stainless steel pedals
I got my new Speedplay pedals in the mail today when I got home and just installed them and tried them out. The fit is great on my Shimano shoes. The double sided entry is great and really easy. They feel like they have a really secure lock on your feet once you clip in. It may just be me but I can't really tell much difference between the float on the Speedplay pedals from my old Look style pedals. I do have them set for 7degrees of float so they are pretty similar to my old pedals in that way, the Look's had 6degrees of float. The contact area seems to be as large as the Look's or atleast I can't feel a difference there either. For me the main difference seemed to be the ease of the double sided entry and the cleats are metal on the bottom and don't seem like they will wear as fast as the Look cleats. I've tried the X series and really don't like all of that float, when I stand to pedal or sprint I bounce my heels off of the chain stays.

Students and facility from the Conemaugh SON in Philadlephia at The Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania Gala

Students from the Conemaugh SON in Philadlephia at The Promise of Nursing for Pennsylvania Gala
On Wednesday we made the trip from Johnstown to Philadelphia. We met at 0815 in Johnstown and then left at 0900. We started with 2 cars following each other and then picked up 2 more cars in Bedford. The trip was long and uneventful. Wink, Wink! It was a great time.

Cannondale Factory
Today Rich, Bob, Mark, and I braved the elements and headed out into the snow to Bedford, PA to tour the Cannondale factory. We ate breakfast at Denny's, yum. Upon arriving at the factory I thought it was sort of odd because it is home to one of the world's largest bike companies but the building has no signs or any markings and could very easily be passed over without a second thought. When we got inside we met with Heidi and she told us who would be giving out tour. We started in the testing and destruction department. We got to see how Cdale tests all of the parts they use and make. We also got to see frame and fork tests along with a frame desturction, which took something like 1600 lbs of pressure. It was also cool to see how your bike flexes under normal pedaling and you don't even notice. Then we started to tour assembly. It was facinating to see this process from the beginning, sheets of metal, through the finished product being shipped out. It is amazing the speed and skill that is used to tack the frames together before they are taken to be welded. Then the welders are probably some of the best in the world. Their welds are extremely smooth, they get sanded afterwords but probably don't need it. I am excited to recieve my new Cdale but scared because although I'm certain the frames are safe now I've seen how thin the aluminum is in some places. It is a wonderful experience and I'm very glad I got to go today. It makes you feel good to know such a high quality product is made right here in the USA. Then to top it all of Heidi gave all of us "Cannondale Factory Tour" shirts when we were ready to leave.

Base Miles Before the Storm

There is supposed to be a big snow storm hitting the north east in the next few days so today was going to be our last nice day to ride for a while. I got the phone call from Rich telling when the ride was and who was going. I showed up to ride and Rich, Mark, Steve, and I started out into the semicold weather, 30 degrees. It was sunny so it felt warm and it was a very enjoyable 48 miles. The only problems were I didn't know we were going to do 48 miles so I was semi-unprepared in the food department. Also, there was a cross wind on the way out and a head wind the whole way home, that may seem wrong but the wind changed because of the up coming storm. It was a fun time and hopefully it won't snow too much and we can do it again soon

Lisa on her 19th birthday
I went to indiana today to go to see my sister and pick up new shoes. We went to the grocery store so I could pick up some chicken to add to the alfredo sauce I was having for dinner tonight, pasta makes you ride good. Lisa showed me around IUP, to her room and to the HUB to eat.

dirty day ride
It was cold and wet today, as evidenced by this pic of my bike, a real mess. I've been sick all week so I felt really bad riding taday.

Normal monday

I had to do school work all day today so I could only ride 7 miles on the trainer before I had to get ready for school tomorrow. I tried to do my situps but my abs were really sore. I don't know if I pulled a muscle or something but trying to do a situp sure hurt.

Me after I got back from a 30 mile ride
I really need some new biking pictures but the weather has been bad so my camera doesn't go on bike rides with me at this time of the year.